Journal lubricant circulator



Aug- 7, 1955 1 A. JOHNSON Erm. 2,757,991

' JOURNAL LUBRICANT cracuLAToa Filed March l1, .1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Q" l| 3 I F Il s n Q l l m I I, n

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81 ml l gg N l .'-J s i if l 'Ig Q J l(l *lll u i l El Y INVENTORS LLOYD A. JO/-l/VSO/l D/V A. OHR/STENSEN A TONE DMART//V r 'i' W A TOR E5 Allg- 7, 1956 A. JOHNSON ETAL JOURNAL LUBRICNT CIRCULATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1l, 1954 N MNEN m Town N NSER R wir 0 NHSM I0] T JMDQ A AOE DAM YNT 0 um@ B 1H Aug- 7, 1956 L. A. JOHNSON ETAL 2,757,991

JOURNAL LUBRICANT CIRCULATOR Filed March l1, 1954 N 4- sheets-sheet 3 INVENTORS LLOYD A. JOHNSON DAN A. OH'PSTENSEN ANTONE OMART/N BY 0 wx United States Patent O 2,757,991 JOURNAL LUBRICANT CIRCULATOR Lloyd A. Johnson, Woodside, Dan A. Christensen, Palo Alto, and Antone D. Martin, Menlo Park, Calif., assignors to National Motor Bearing Co., Inc., Redwood City, Calif., a corporation of California Application March 11, 1954, Serial No. 415,468 31 Claims. (Cl. 308-91) This invention relates to a lubricant circulator and more particularly to a self-contained device adapted to be inserted between the lower side of a journal and the bottom of an oil `reservoir adapted to form a housing for the journal. More specically, the device of the present invention is designed to be driven by the journal and operates to lubricate the journal with certainty and high efficiency over a wide range of conditions and under the most extreme and adverse circumstances.

Although the novel lubricant circulator herein disclosed is of general application to a great variety of journals, a specific application for which it has been found admirably suited is the journals of a rail car truck. Accodingly, the invention will be discussed below in the light of the experience gained in this application in order to illustrate its unique and highly advantageous features.

For decades, railroad cars have been supported on trucks at either end of the car. Each truck comprises two pairs of wheels integral with an axle having journals at its opposite ends projecting from the outer faces of the wheels. The body of the car is supported on these journals through a bolster assembly and bearing brasses.

The individual bearing brasses and associated journals are enclosed in a journal housing having an oil reservoir underlying and fully open to the exposed lower half of each journal. It is, of course, imperative that a film of oil be maintained between the journal and the brass bearing resting thereon. Should this film fail for any reason, the metal surfaces in direct Contact will quickly abrade and destroy one another. In so doing the heat of friction will not only accelerate destruction of the metals, but may actually ignite the lubricant causing a serious tire.

The problem of providing a satisfactory mode of lubricating rail car journals has received the close attention of designers for more than one hundred years. In general, the solutions proposed may be classified as employing either a mechanical lubricator or a wick-type lubricant feeder. Neither type, as so far developed, begins to cope with the multitude of operating conditions encountered in normal railroad operations. However, the wicking-type lubricator making use of cotton waste to convey oil from the reservoir to the journal has long been favored as more certain in operation despite its many serious disadvantages. Accordingly, the hundreds of thousands of cars nowin operation are designed to make use of cotton waste. Hence, one of the primary objectives of the present invention has been the provision of a thoroughly reliable, foolproof mechanical lubricant circulator which can be substituted for the cotton waste in existing equipment without making any alterations in the equipment, as well as a circulator equally well suited for installation in newly de` signed rail truck equipment. The importance of this adaptability characteristic will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art `who are familiar with the high cost of installing any new accessory requiring even minor changes in existing equipment. i

Moreover, the present invention provides a journal 2,757,991' Patented Aug. 7, 1955 ice lubricator which has met with great success in actual service due to its unique design, remarkable flexibility and Versatility, ruggedness, adaptability, light weight, resistance to attack by the elements and lubricating medium, ease of assembly, disassembly and servicing, low maintenance cost, ability to maintain lubrication so long as any oil is present, as well as its ability to maintain the oil temperature much lower than is possible with lubricators heretofore known. Another outstanding characteristic of our lubricator distinguishing it from prior lubricators is its ability to preserve true alignment with the journal despite continuous and abrupt changes in the relative position of the journal and its housing when the car is in transit, together with its ability to absorb shocks, vibrations and abuse generally. This relative movement occurs in every possible direction including axial, radial, angular, and combinations of all three of these. Not to be overlooked as major contributors to the failure of the previous designs are the severe shocks inherent in routine rail operations. These shocks are caused by rough roadbeds,

. poor rail joints, sudden braking, switching operations,

coupling, the negotiation of curves at high speeds, and many other factors, to all of which our lubricant circulator has been found to be highly tolerant while continuing to perform its functions at high eiiiciency.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel lubricant circulator for journals which is self-contained, rugged, highly flexible, inexpensive to manufacture, install and service, positive and highly eilicient in operation and equally suitable for use in either existing or newly designed equipment.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a lubricant circulator which can be quickly installed in existing railway car journal boxes by unskilled labor, and which makes use of resilient portions of the circulator to hold the same in its proper operating position between a journal surface and the bottom wall of the journal housing.

Another object is the provision of a mechanical circulator which automatically maintains itself in true alignment with the journal irrespective of continuing erratic and abrupt changes in the relative positions of the journal and its housing, and irrespective of whether these changes be axial, radial, angular, or some combination of these.

Yet another object is the provision of a lubricant circulator which not only assures positive and complete lubrication of the journal, but which circulates a great capacity in excess of normal requirements (particularly at lower speeds), but the rate of lubricant circulation actually varies as the rate of rotation of the journal varies for the purpose of dissipating the greater heat of friction produced under these conditions.

A further object is the provision of a light-weight lubricant circular designed to embrace the lower, opposite sides of a journal rmly and resiliently, and incorporating moving lubricant conveyors adapted to supply adequate and excess quantities of oil to the journal despite widely varying levels of the lubricant in its reservoir.

Still another object is the provision of a lubricator comprising a readily flexible arcuate main body carrying journal contacting rollers at the outer ends of its arms and wherein each of the rollers supporting arms is free to flex toward and away from the surface of a journal embraced thereby, as well as to twist about the longitudinal axis of the arms to maintain true rolling contact v despite sudden angular displacements of the journal.

Yet another object is the provision of a journal lubricator adapted to be supported between a journal and the A further object is the provision of a lubricant cireulatory employing resiliently supported oil conveyingl rollersv inter-connected by one or more endless elastic belt's having one run in contact with Vthe journal and another' run con'- strained to pass in eloseproximity to the-bottomofan oil reservoir for the purpose of circulating oil-e tof-the journal and the surrounding space until'the-oi-llsupply is substantiallyexhausted.

Yet another object is the provision of a lubricant -cireulator. making user of one or more endless elastic-belts impervious to-'a lubricant medium. and"havingvv a small diameter, rounded contour providing aline contactfwitha journal. surfaceand so arranged 'that thebeltsmay -turn about-.their own center line asthe journal shifts'faxially.

Numerous other objects-and advantages offour inventionwill becomev readily apparent from, the` accompanying detailed specification of an illustratedembodiment-.of 'the inventionitakenin connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure-1 is a perspectiverview of a lubricatingv device incorporating the invention as installed infa typical railway journal box with parts ofithe journaly housingt broken away;

FigurefZ is -a vertical sectional view through the `journal housingv` showing the lubricatingdevice of'Figure. l in. stalled in operativefrelation thereto;

Figure V3 is a vertical sectional view takentalong line 3-3 on Figure 2;

Figure -4 is a perspective view looking into the journal box-through its entryway showing thel lubricating device collapsed or flattened-for insertion around the end of the journal;

Figure 5 is a-topplan viewvof thelubrieaton andy Figures 6, 7 and 8.are fragmentary diagrammatic views in end. elevation, side elevation, and top plan respectively,

of thejournal, journal housing, and lubricating devicev showing the relative positions of the various parts for different` relative positions of the journal and'itsfhousing.

occurring in the actual operation of the invention.

Figure l illustrates a conventional railroad truck journal box H enclosing-a journal S and supported thereon through a sandwich consisting of a bearing brass P and a..

wedge W. Journal S projects trunnion fashion'from. the

outcr'faee of'the` truck Wheel (not shown) and intor the housing H through its rear end wall. A rounded seallng shoulder O formed on the journal lies in the plane oftherear-end wall of the housing H. Shouder Oforms a.

The upper half of the front endwall 35'of thejournal housing-is provided -with Van access openingor entryway 41fly1ng-1n a plane Ainclined to the vertical and normally maintained closed in a liquid tight manner b'y a'eover 40 hingedixto: the upper wall of housing H as by the usual hinge construction 42. trated extend downwardly below the ljournal suflciently to form\.alargecapacity oil reservoir which, in current Journal boxes ofthetype illusrailroad practice, are partially filled with cotton waste in.

contact with the lower exposed lsurface of theijournal.' Therpresent. invention teaches the manner in which'ths cotton'waste andthe many inherentV disadvantages based onritsusernay-be obviated by substituting amechanical lubricant eirculator havingthe features and unique conf structionnowto be'deseribed in detail.

Referring to Figures '1 to 5, it willbe seen thatthe lubri. 75

cant circulator comprises a main body A formed from eit-her-a-singleor a plurality of closelywnested'ilat` leaf springs of U-shape. In comparison with a single leaf spring, a multiple leaf assembly has the advantage of greater exibilty and of withstanding greater bending without taking a permanent set. However, either type of spring assembly is eminently satisfactory. The upper ends of eachof theV legs of theassernbly may be curled around the mid-portion of axles 22 the opposite ends of which `project trunniorr fashion from either side' of the spring assembly. Journaled to each end of the axles is a roller'orfpulleyB which' may be held inplace in any suitable manner as'by split spring keepers 26. Washers 27 are also preferablylocated'on either sideof-therollers to protect the rollers and to keep them centered on the trunnions.

A second pair of idler rollers C are supported on an axle 23 carried by a U-shaped clip 24 at the lower bight portion of the main ybodyA.y As herein' shown, clipv 24'is held assembledfto the main body A by means of al shouldered ypedestal .E having a reduced upper and'extending through-aligned vopenings in clip 24 and main body A. After'arwasher32 has been assembledfover theupper end of-thefpedestal, the= projectingv portion -of the pedestal isb'eadedt or headed over to lock the parts in assembled position; Axle 23 is preferably locked in position Ainthel upstanding legs of clip 24 'by keys, upsetting ofthe metal or-anycther suitable manner. And of course rollers C may be held assembled to the opposite ends of the axle by split: spring. keepers.

As-best shown in' Figures 2 and 5, each ofthe rollers is providedwith abelt receiving groove 25 forrseatingan endless yelastic vbelt D of rubber or the like which is im pervious to attack by the lubricant with which the device is `to benused.: The belt grooves 25 arcpreferablydeeper than-thediameter of the belts D to avoid any possibility' offthebelts being pinched by the journal. The grooves are` also slightly wider than the diameter of the belt to -prevent yany bindingr action and also to permit the belt to rcllorturn inside out during axial shifting of the journal with which `the lubrieator is assembled. Tf the axis ofi idlenrollers'C is located adjacent the bight portion. off springassembly A, it willy be apparent that the legs ofthe springassembly can ex toward or away from one anotherthrougha. wide-arc'without appreciably` changing the length of the portions ofethe belt between rollers B and C',

instead, the `changes required` in the length of-tbe bclt'by theeXing-,of the. springare conf-ined tothcl upperl runs ofthe belt located between upper rollers B.

As madetclear by Figures l to 5, pedestal yEv is'afshort smalLdiameter post having its axis ylocated onl the vertiealmedian axis-of1thelubrieant circulator. The lower end .ofthepedestalis formed to rest directly on the'bottornof the oilfreservoir which slopes upwardly as it merges witlfthe.v side walls Aofjournal housing H. Accordingly, it willl be cleaitthat thc-centrally disposed pedestal E cooperates with the shape of the reservoir to maintain the" lubricant circulatorproperly centered beneathv the jour-` -nal, yet allows lubricant circulator to shift orto tilt in anyI direction about .the base of the pedestal as required to maintain the rolleraxles parallel to the axis offjournal` S. And of course, .as the4 journal returns'to its normal position centrally of housing H, the rounded contour ofthe reservoir bottom causes the pedestal, if bychance-itl has become displaced,y tov return4 to its position` directly beneath ftheaxis' of the journal.

Unfortunately, railroad y cars are subject to' suddenI shocks andfjoltsV ofsuch magnitude'as to'completelyor partially-displace-thefcirculatorz To safeguard against this contingency, it1is-preferable to'provide a guard rail about thebase'ofrthe pedestal. Suchsa guardrail may .comprise afwasherrSSgtwelded or otherwiseanchbred tothe base Vof fthe-reservoir andshaving15a/.central `opening. somewl-iati` llarger than the diameter ofthe-pedestal. Aszalresult; thefwasher aetso. prevent displacement offthefcircultor from its preferred operating position while allowing it to shift or tilt to the extent necessary to maintain the rollers in true rolling contact withthe journal surface.

Figures 2 and 4 in particular make clear that the spacing between the llange 36 on the outer end of the journal, and the front wall 35 of the journal housing is very restricted. The lubricant circulator of this invention is specially designed and adapted to be assembled and dis assembled as a unit through this restricted space without resort to special tools or the need for partially disassembling any part of the rail truck. Thus, Figure 4 shows the legs 20 of the spring assembly A flattened until rollers B lie substantially in a common plane with idler rollers C. In this collapsed and flattened condition, the circulator can be readily manoeuvered into the entryway 41 of the journal box and downwardly around the flanged end 36 of the journal to its normal operating position directly beneath the journal. Once it has been manoeuvered into place it is allowed to return to its normal shape with the upper rollers positioned on the opposite sides of the journal and in firm contact therewith. Of course, the lower end of the supporting pedestal is seated within guard ring 33 during the assembly operation and either before or after allowing the circulator to expand into embracing contact with the journal.

Should it become necessary for any reason to remove the circulator, it is merely necessary to unseat the pedestal from the guard ring and to flatten or collapse the circulator to the position shown in Figure 4 by grasping rollers B in the operators hands and deflecting them away from one another toward the horizontal position. While the circulator is so held, it is a simple matter to manipulate it around flange 36 out through the entryway 41.

During either the assembly or disassembly operation, it will be clear that the elastic belts D are held captive in grooves 25 of the rollers. Preferably, the normal relaxed length of the belts corresponds to the length of the belt circuit defined by rollers B and C prior to the assembly of the circulator into the journal box. This normal, fully relaxed position of the circulator is indicated by the dot and dash lines in Figure 3. Hence, it will be clear that as the circulator is assembled in its normal operating position, belts D are placed under light but rm tension.

The belt tension serves a number of important useful functions. First of all, it maintains the belts in firm frictional contact with the bottoms of the roller grooves and thereby provides assurance that rollers B will drive the belts and idler rollers C for a purpose which will be explained more fully presently. The tension on the belt also assures that the upper run will be held in rm, line contact with the under surface of the journal. A particularly important function of the belt tension is to supplement the action of the spring assembly in holding the rollers in continuous and lirm contact with the journal to snub any tendency of the rollers, or the circulator as a whole, to vibrate or bounce toward or away from the journal surface. ln the absence of this snubbing action, it has been found in practice that vibrations arising from sundry causes result in the corrugation of rollers B, as well as in the journal surface. The highly detrimental effect of this is too obvious for comment. The tension on the belt also assures that the belt will be maintained seated in the roller grooves and prevents it from jumping onto the rim of rollers B where it might be quickly crushed and destroyed by the journal.

Let it be assumed that the lubricant circulator is installed in its normal operating position illustrated in Figure l. The oil reservoir formed by the lower portion of the journal housing should be filled with a suitable lubricant to a preferred initial level 53 closely adjacent the lowermost portion of llange 36, as illustrated in Figure 3. Under these conditions, the lower runs of the belts are submerged, as are the lower portions of upper rollers B.

As soon as the car is placed in motion, the journal will rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise. However, the direction of travel is immaterial since all parts of the circulator are symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane through the axis of the journal. The opposite legs of' the spring assembly, of course, act to maintain rollers B in firm frictional contact with the opposite sides of the journal so that these rollers are driven by the journal. The upper runs of the belts are held in rm line contact with the under surface of the journal by' the tension imposed on the belts by the journal. It follows, that the journal drives rollers B which then drive the belts and rollers C.

As the car continues in motion, the rollers, together with the elastic belts, convey large quantities of oil directly to the surface of the journal which then carries the lubricant to the lower surface of the brass P. Due to the very considerable difference in the diameter of the rollers B and the journal, it will be apparent that the rollers operate at a much higher speed than the journal. in consequence, even slow speed movement of the railroad car causes the rollers, as well as the belts, to sling oil from their surfaces by centrifugal action. As the speed of the car increases, this slinging action becomes Very pronounced with the result that large quantities of oil are slung forcibly into all parts of the journal housing. An idea of the large quantities of oil maintained in circulation above the oil level by the present design is gained from the fact that when the car is moving at a cruising operating speed the oil level is from one-half to three-quarters of an inch lower than when the car is standing still. 1n other words, upwards of one quart of oil is maintained in suspension and circulation by the present lubricator under normal operating conditions. This means that all portions of the interior of the housing are looded in a bath of the circulating oil. Much of the oil is lirst carried to the journal which then acts as a slinger' throwing excess quantities of the oil against the sides and top of the journal housing. Other quantities of oil are flung directly against the interior sides of the housing by the traveling belts and rollers. This circulating oil runs down the sides of the housing in excellent heat exchange relation with the atmospheric air on the outside of the housing.

Since the excess quantity of oil conveyed to the journal and to the interior side walls of the housing is directly related to the speed of the car itself, it will be readily apparent that the rate of oil circulation increases directly with the speed of the car. And of course, the heat of friction caused by the brass and the rotating journal is directly related to the speed of the car. It will therefore be understood why the temperature of the lubricant in reservoirs equipped with the present circulator remains substantially constant over a wide range of car operating speeds. This is highly desirable in order to prolong the life of the lubricant, prevent changes in its viscosity and, of particular importance, it avoids objectionable rises in the vapor pressure within the journal box and thereby safeguards against the escape of oil past seal M or the gasket between the entryway and cover 4G.

Let us now consider another highly important aspect and operating characteristic of the present invention. It is well known that wide range relative movements between the journal and its housing take place constantly in the normal operation of rail cars. A rough indication of the magnitude and variety of these relative movements is suggested by the fragmentary diagrams appearing in Figures 6, 7, and 8. For example, the journal and its housing shift through a wide range axially of the journal. The journal also moves up and down in a vertical plane as the car proceeds over a rough roadbed or is jolted in starting, braking, and coupling operations. These operations also result in lateral and angular shiftings of the journal of the general character indicated in Figures 7 and 8.

lhe present circulator instantaueeusly accommodates itself; totanypossible type offrelativemovement and Amaintains the rollers intrue rollingl contact with'the surface of. the journal :under allconditions. For example, the spring. assembly A permits the rollers to move toward and away from the journal with great rapidity. Furthermore, the width of springs A, .together .with their location midway between rollers B, serves to resist .any force :tending to. move axles 22 out of parallelism .withthe journal.

.-Likewise, the legs of spring Ar respondes quickly. to torsional movements about the axis. of the legs as to tlexing movement ofthe legs towardand away from .the side faces of the journal. vThe signiljcance of .thisisthenfact that the legs of the spring will -twist as necessary .to :maintain the surfaces of rollers B against the journalI during anytendency of the journal toshift angularly in .the manner indicated in Figure 8. This same result is alsoassured by another feature of the design; namely, the'support of the entire lubricator on the centrallygdisposed pedestal E. This follows from the fact that .the-taxis. ofthe pedestal coincides with the medial axis of the eirculator bs a whole, and the fact that the ylower end of the lpedestal is free. to pivot or tilt on the bottom of the. eilt-reservoir. vItwill therefore be. clear that angularrelativer-movements are compensated for either by the twist-ing of :thespring legs, or by the pivoting of the cireulator on its pedestahorby a combination of both of these.

Over a period of many months, the oil levelestablished at the initial tilling will have fallen .through variouscauses to a level much closer to thebottomof the reservoir. Certain amounts of the oil are consumed, While other quantities may be lost through vaporization `and:.eseape past the seals maintained at the oppositeends of the journal housing. However, the falling oil level. does lnot materially affect the operation of the circulator or the amount of oil .maintained in circulation throughout the housing. The fact that the oil-level falls'below rollers'B does not really interfere withl theiruoperationas ,oil'circulaters, since the lower runs of .the `belts keep-.these-rollers ooded with excess lubricant and theycontinue .to Yfling the oil from their rims into contact `with the journal as well as with the housing walls.

Eventually, the level falls below the. .topsof the idler rollers, whereupon they begin toaugment Athe action-of the upper rollers in tiinging oilupwardly. intoallfparts of thehousing. Of course, thecontinuousajoltingfof` the car ltruck keeps the oil surging from end to end .and from wall to wall of the housing. and tends to keep rollers B bathed in oil, with the net result that upwards of one quart of oil continues lin suspension and'circulation even after the levelhas fallen to the level of the axle 23. When this-point is reached, it willbe appreciated that rollers C maintain the lower run of the belt submerged and close to the very bottom of the reservoir. This fact, together with the continual slushing of the oil along the bottom, keeps rollers C, as well as belts D, supplied with the remaining remnants of the oil supply.

At thispoint, it is desired to point out several im portant characteristics of the belt design. Heretofore, it has been considered importantA when using a belt in a lubricator, to employ a wide belt in contact withisubstantially .the entire lower surface of the journal to assure thorough and complete lubrication. Such belts have serious disadvantages which have been entirely obviated by-the present design. Contrary to prior practice, the .presenti device places substantially no relianceupon the frictional contact between the journal .and the belt to `drive the belt. Instead, adequate frictional contact is `maintained between the surface. of the rollers and the journal to .drive the former, and through them the elastic belts. .The vlatter type of drive has been found much moreeliicient and positive in action. Moreover, the en- -tire4 surface of our rounded contour. beltsl acts as a highly effective lubricantpump and circulator, eventhough onlys-a line.. contact ismaintained lbetween the journal and the upper runs of the belts. This is for therreason that thezoil;.clingiug `tothe entire'belt surface.; as .thenbelt emerges .fromzthe pool, gravitates .immediately through centrifugalfaction totheoutermostside ofthe beltfrom whichfit is slungvupwardly and outwardly with considerable force. The oil slung onto the journal quickly spreads over `the ylengthof the journal without either assistance .0r interference'from the belt, in sharp contrast with the mode of operation of the wide belts heretofore used.

Another highly important distinction is that little or no reliance is `placed upon wide area surface contact between .the belt and the journal for any purpose; on the contrary,.a minimum area of contact has been found advantageous. This is largely for the reason that there is constant relative shifting of the journal and the housing. This. shifting, and particularly the axial shifting of the journal crosswise of a wide belt, would cause heavy wear on the belt. When the belts of round or elliptical crosssection are used as proposed here, substantially no wear whatever occurs. Axial shifting of the journal with respect to vthe .circulator may result in a turning of the belts about. their own axis,uthereby bringing a new portion of the belts surface into contact with the journal. When .this occurs, it is not uncommon for the belt to turn 180.-.degrees -or even 360 degrees about its ownaxis during a single axial shifting movement of the journal.

Among the .many other. novel and important aspects of the-.rinvention is the fact .that .the present circulator automatically compensates for the wear of the brasses -P. For example, when ythe device is installed in a journal box `having ythick new brasses, the `axis of the journal will be at a considerably lower level with respect to the bottom ofthe reservoir than when the brasses are substantially worn out. It will therefore be understood that the. great rilexibility and adaptability of the present circu- 'latorenahles` it to accommodate itself to these changing conditions without .changingits mode of operation or its high efficiency. The installation. .of a new thick brass P merelymeansthat the journalwill spread the upper rollersJB` further away from one another' and place the elastic belts D under slightly greater tension. As the brass-Pfwears'in use, the springs A, together with the elasticfbclts D, vwill provide constant compensation so asato maintainthe circulator in .firm and proper operating contact with the journal.

At this point, it willalso be appreciated that the circulator is composed of a ylimited number of parts, all of which can be extremely light in weight and'yet made from very tough andy durable materials capable of withstanding the-.most brutal,.abusive treatment and handling both.in useandprior to being placed in` use. .Because `of .its'verylight weight, the device as a whole, .as well as its components, has very little inertia which accounts for its rapid response to movement in alldirections. It also enables thebelts to'be'highly effective in snubbing any tendency; for .the lubricator, and especially the .upper rollers, to vibrate.

'It is also highly advantageous to. make the rollers, and particularly the upper rollers, of light weight material having ygoed bearing characteristics, much greater resilience than thejournal, abrasion resistance, and which do not 4become brittlev at low temperatures. A satisfac- .tory rollershouldalso have other characteristics, all of which are possessed to a very high degree by certain non- -metallict materials such as rubber compounds `and certain plastic materials. For example, plastics of the polyamide family are unusually well suited, and one known in the trade as nylon has proven very successful in actual field practice.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, -manysadditional changes in construction andwdcly .ditferingfembodimentsand applications ofthe invention -will,suggest; .themselves without departing from the spirit .orscopeoffthe invention. Forvexample, it `will be ap.- ,parent-.thatfthe-spring lsupportingfarms for the upper rollers may :consist of .substantially :rigid -arms .pivotly connected to a central support in the vicinity of or coincident with the axle Afor idler rollers C. These arms can be biased toward one another in any suitable manner by one or more springs of the tension, compression or torsion variety. While the embodiment illustrated makes use of six rollers and two elastic belts, it will be obvious that the number of rollers may be varied at will between a minimum of two and any desired higher number. And of course a single belt will sufce but fails to provide as much protection as two or more belts or to insure continued lubrication in case of belt failure. Another variation may consist in a different design of the belts and the grooves in which they operate. As pointed out above, belts of round or elliptical contour have been found highly effective in use, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this shape but comprehends a wide variety of cross-sectional shapes including iat, V-shape, rectangular-shape, and many variations of these. The foregoing statements are believed indicative of the fact that the disclosures and descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

We claim:

l. A deformable lubricating device adapted to be supported on a lower` wall portion of a bearing housing for a rotating journal comprising: a flat spring member having a central portion and upwardly extending arms; upper pulleys rotatably mounted on said arms by means of axles in parallel with one another; lower pulleys rotatably mounted on said central spring portion; endless belt means encircling said pulleys; and pivot means secured to said central spring portion and projecting downwardly therefrom for supporting said device from the lower wall of a bearing housing portion to provide a pivotal support for said lubricating device and permitting the latter to move as necessary to maintain the axles of said pulleys parallel to a journal axis as the journal and its housing assume ditferent positions with respect to each other.

2. The device of claim l wherein said endless belt means are elastic and adapted to be maintained under tension when the upper runs thereof are held depressed against the surface of the journal to supplement the action of said spring means in urging said pulleys into eiective driving contact with a journal.

3. In combination with a journal assembly having a journal and a bearing housing therefor, a deformable lubricating device supported on a lower wall portion of said bearing housing with its upper end held against said journal comprising: an arcuate spring member having a central portion and upwardly extending spring arms; axles supported on said extending spring arms adjacent and parallel to the surface of said journal; a plurality of pulleysfsome mounted on the opposite ends of said axles with their rims in contact with said journal at axially spaced points, and some rotatably mounted on said central spring portion; endless belts encircling the pulleys on the corresponding ends of said axles, respectively, and having their upper runs in contact with said journal over a substantial portion of their length; said belts being held under tension against the lower surface of said journal; and pivotal support means secured between the central portion of said spring and the lower wall of said bearing housing to `provide pivotal support for said spring member; whereby said spring arms and said tensioned belts mutually cooperate in maintaining certain of said pulleys and the upper runs of said belts resiliently in contact with the lower surface of said journal so that said lubricating device moves freely with the journal as it executes relative movements with respect to the journal housing.

4. A distortable lubricating device designed for insertion as a unit into a bearing housing for a rotating journal comprising an arcuate spring member having terminal spring arm portions, a system of pulleys, rotatably.

mounted on said spring member for rotation about axes in parallel with a journal axis, endless belts encircling said pulleys, a supporting pedestal secured to and projecting downwardly from the central portion of said spring member, said arcuate spring being manually distortable toward a common plane to facilitate assembly of said lubricating device into thev oil reservoir of a bearing housing and being operable upon release to assume a lubricating position with the pulleys in contact with a journal to be lubricated and with the supporting pedestal directed downwardly for contact with the lower wall of a bearing housing for a journal.

5. In a bearing housing enclosing a rotating journal, a lubricating device comprising: an arcuate spring member; axles supported at the opposite ends and at the midpoint of said spring member; pulleys rotatably mounted on each of said axles; a plurality of endless belts encircling said pulleys, said end-axle-supported pulleys being adapted to be held in driving contact with said journal from the opposite sides thereof and said midpoint-axlesupported pulleys being adapted to rotate on a lower level from said end-axle-supported pulleys, whereby lubricant below said journals is picked up by said belts and is both thrown andcarried directly by the belts from a lower portion of the bearing housing into contact with the rotating journal regardless of the direction of rotation of said shaft.

6. In combination with a journal and a bearing housing therefor, a collapsible lubricating device adapted to be supported on the lower wall portion of said bearing housing, said device comprising: an arcuate spring member having upwardly extending arm portions and pivotal supporting means intermediate said arms for supporting the same from the bottom of said bearing housing, upper pulleys rotatably mounted on said arm portions and urged thereby toward said journal, lower pulleys mounted adjacent the lower ends of said arm portions, endless elastic belt means encircling said pulleys and cooperating with said spring member to hold said upper pulleys in contact with the rotating journal to move therewith and to carry lubricant from adjacent said lower pulley upwardly to said journal, said spring member being collapsible to facilitate installation and removal of the device from between said journal and said housing.

7. In combination with a journal and a housing therefor, a lubricating device comprising: a substantially U- shaped spring member, the extending arms of said member constituting resilient spring arms; driving pulleys rotatably mounted on said spring arms and urged thereby into contact with said journal; idler pulleys rotatably mounted adjacent a lower portion of said spring member; each of said pulleys having annular grooves; endless belts encircling said pulleys and recessed in said grooves; and a supporting pedestal secured to and projecting below the lower portion of said spring member to provide a pivotal point of contact with a lower wall of said bearing housing; whereby the rotating journal imparts rotation to said driving pulleys which in turn move .the endless belts to convey lubricant from a lower portion of the bearing housing regardless of relative shifting of said shaft and bearing housing.

8. A unitary, self-aligning lubricator adapted to be vertically collapsed temporarily to a size permitting its insertion beneath a rail car truck journal through the inlet opening of the journal housing, said lubricator comprising the journal housing, a pair of arms having their upper freeends resiliently biased toward one another about their movably joined lower ends, a plurality of parallel axles projecting laterally from the side faces of said arms at the 4upper and lower ends thereof, belt pulleys on said axles encircled by an endless belt of elastic material resistant to lubricating oil, said belt being stretchable to permit said arms to be moved away from eachother as said lubricator is collapsed for insertion through a journal housing inlet, said belt being afm-'7,9911' effective#v thereafter in cooperation. with said. resiliently f b'iased;.arms. to. hold said lubricator in. its `operativeposi.-` tioninfsaid housing'with the upper ends .of .said arms embracingythe opposite sides of ajournal andthe-.opposite lower: end'A of. the` lubricator` pivotally bearing.: on thebottom of the journal housing. ona vertical axis .extending-.through the axis ofthe journal.A

9.. 4A unitary, .self1contained, self-.alignmentV lubrieator.

adaptednto be inserted into and supported onthe bottomof=.:a journal housing of the type having. anoil reservoiry opening: upwardly toward Vthe-exposed lower. surface. of

a journal enclosed by said housing, said lubricator.com

prisingza journal housing, a single: U.shaped1spring assembly,.eachleg,1o said assembly being :readilyflexiblm towardnandt awayfrom one another and:-eaeh...leg. being,

twistable. aboutaV median line: extendinglengthwise of. thevlegwhenza twisting; force. is .applied to `the upper. end offtherlegs,y means lsupporting rollers. on'the upper ends ofzsaidlegsxonaxes parallel. tonone another andat right angles `tothezplane of. said.U.-shaped spring, assembly, and

means .fors supportingzsaid. lubricator. through. the: bight portion thereoffrom the bottomv of the journalhousing andwithusaid rollers heldv by. said spring: assemblyl in resilient contact with the opposite sides of al journal*y wherebyy saidrollers are maintained in contact .with the journal. as the same shifts .relative to its housing through any of a great variety of directions.

l0. .Af unitary, ,self-contained, .self-aligning.:l lubricator as defined in claim 9 including an elastieiendless belt-enf circling, said rollers andcooperating with theresilient legsofsaidspringv assembly in holding therollers. in contact with the opposite sides ofa journal and in snubhing; any tendency of therollers to vibrate'or move. out ofrollingcontact with the journal.

ll. Aunitary, self-contained, self-aligning lubricator as'detined.l in claim 10 including an id lerrollerfor the lower-'run of said elastic belt, means supportingsaididler roller-adjacent the. lowermostportion of said U-.shaped.

spring. assembly so as to .constrain said belt to. pass'in close proximity, to the bottom of an oil reservoir onf@- whichthelubricator is supported', and theupperrunsof variations in the relative positions. of Vsaid journaland".

housingf when in use, said. lubricator comprising asingle: Urshapedleafspring assembly havingpivotmeans fory supporting the bight portion thereof from a..wall l`of. saidy reservoirand havingithe free ends .of its legs1embrac ingrsaid journal from thea opposite` sides` thereof; roller means `carried. byl the free ends of said. spring. arms ion axes parallel to. the axis of said journal withtheirdower' rims .in.:close.-proximity. to an oilv pool in said reservoir and their upper rims held in. firmzresilient rolling'sfcon tact'with said journal surface by said spring. irrespective of wide range movementsof saidfhousing relativeA to said journal whereby said rollers are held. in substantially true rolling.. contact f with said journal.v second roller.. meanssupported-:adjacent said pivot means,-. andendless. beltsy around .said rollers carrying. oilvfrom saidreservoirup4r to: said journal.

13.- In combination,y aurailroad truck journal-housing having :ant oil reservoir in. the lower.portion-thereof; a wheel journal overlying. said oil reservoir-and vfreelyfexposedfthereto,v a bearing brass :assembly-'interposedbetweenatheupper side of said journal. and .the-top wallmf said housing, and :self-'contained .means for lubricating saidnjour-nal. and for. circulating.` :large Vexcessaquantities of 'oil into contact withfthe journahsaid bearing-assembly and-.theinterior walls' of saidfhousiugafor zthefpurposef of 12 transferringy thefheataof frictionto the'exteriorf.'ambientx air, .saidself-.contained .means comprising 'arrun'rtaryl as-I semblyinterposed between the. bottom ofsaid reservoir1 and thelowersurface of said journal and including meansf for-supporting and. driving a tensioned elastic. beltof'f small radius from said journal, said belt having. one.' run: held in contact with the. lower. side of said: journal' and another run passing through ythe oil. in saidreservoirandwbeingV operable: to sling. large .quantities of oilfroml surfaces ontonsaidjournal andthe interior wallsiofl said housing, and .said rotating journal being operable'to.' slingexcess yquantities of oil supplied theretov ontosaid brass .assembly and the walls of .said housing. whereby the-heat of friction. generated between said journaland saidbrass is'transferred to the ambient air by way. of'.' said `circulating oil and the walls of said journalhousing.

14. In combination, a railroad trucky journal housinghaving an oil reservoirinthelower portion=thereofland= freely` exposed to a rotating journal` enclosed by the up per portionofsaidhousing, a bearing-brass assemblyinterposed ibetween the top ofsaid .housing and'theup-4 per side of said journal, and means driven byLsaid journal for lubricating said journal from said oil reservoir and forsdistributing large excess quantities :of oil`to all parts of.. said-journal housinginorder. to transfer the heatl offfractionto the outside ambient air, saidmeans" in-I cluding. a plurality. of endless, elastic belts ofi small cross-section, resilient:means for supportingfsaidbeltsff underv tension and fory driving fromdsaid journal. in' ac- I cordance with thev rate. ofrotationofisaid Ajournali andE with-thelower runs of.said belts passingy throughfoilliny said reservoir and thefupper runs thereofipositionedtm tlng oil. by'. centrifugal action ontofsaidjournaliandtthef interiory walls of said housing at-points4 spacedaxially along said journal, andsaid journalibeinguoperable=to fling excess quantities ofoil onto the walls of said journali housing whereby the heat of friction. isl transferred-tothe: outsidefambicntair by means -offsaidr circulating'foil.

l5. A unitary, self-contained lubricantf circulator' adapted for mounting between. the lower-sideofia railway.truck journal and `the ybottom of. thehousing there for, said.A lubricant circulator. comprising a U-shaped'A unitary main body formed yoflresilient atstrip material.- andhavingilegs, axle means' parallell to/one another and projecting laterally. fromthe opposite edges of'- the freeends of said mainV body, axle meansparallel to said first vmentioned axle means 'projectingi fromv the-opposite= edges'of theibightzportion.ofsaid main body; a-pedestal projecting', from'fsaid .bright portionv in i aVA direction away from` said axles andwith .its substantially.coinciding-with aniaxis .passingmidway between 1 the .legs .of saidmainbody, `pulleys carried by the-free'endsaof each-.of said axle.- means,. and resilient belt: means encircling-1 the pulleys; onl either side of: said main body andV co-J A operatingwith saidv resilienttlatstrip material inurgingI they free-.ends offsaiclfmainbodyl together in opposition to forces :tendingto. spread lthe. same;- apart..

16. Aunitary, self-containedzlubricant circulatorfas. defined. in claim.:15 wherein the.I pulleys at fthe frce ends= of` said-1 main'. body have, a belt: receiving groove' for-1 saidiibelt :meansandifa relatively` wide: cylindrical .f surfaceY to.. oneg-side; thereof adapted to'seat.against'the-,surfacey ofqarailwayV truclejournaland to. be drivenutlrereby.

17.' A unitary, self-containedy lubricant circulator adaptedfor-mountingi between. thewlower side off a=.rail way truck journal Vandfthe bottomzof'theI housing.V therefor,v said; lubricant'. circulatorcomprisinga. U-shapedL unitarymain1body-formed: of resilient flat strip material and-having. legs;l axlexmeans .parallel to -onef'another'- andl projecting laterally: fromI the f oppositeedgesl of the`- free' ends of said main body, axle -rneansparallel'i-to' said first` mentioned axle; means projecting' from" thel opposite edges.' of the -bight portion'vof f said' main body;A a' pedestal projecting from-said bight portion in" a-'direction" away' 75 fromlsaid axlesl and lwithi -its axis-- substantiallyl coinciding' with an axis passing midway between the legs of said main body, deeply grooved pulleys carried by the free ends of each of said axle means, and a substantially round resilient belt `encircling and seated in the grooves of said pulleys on either side of said main body and cooperating with said resilient flat strip material in urging the free ends of said main body together in opposition to forces tending to spread the same apart, the grooves in said pulleys being at least as deep as the cross-sectional diameter of said belts whereby the rims of said belt grooves are adapted to seat against a railway truck journal without any substantial squeezing of said belts against the bottoms of said belt grooves.

18. A unitary, self-contained lubriacnt circulator adapted for mounting between the lower side of a railway truck journal and the bottom of the housing therefor, said lubricant circulator comprising a U-shaped unitary main body formed of resilient flat strip material and having legs, axle means parallel to one another and projecting laterally from the opposite edges of the free ends of said main body, axle means parallel to said rst mentioned axle means projecting from the opposite edges of the bight portion of siad main body, a pedestal projecting from said bight portion in a direction away from said axles and with its axis substantially coinciding with an aXis passing midway between the legs of said main body, deeply grooved pulleys carried by the free ends of each of said aXle means, and a substantially round resilient belt encircling the pulleys on either side of said main body and cooperating with said resilient dat strip material in urging the free ends of said main body together in opposition to forces tending to spread the same apart, the grooves in said pulleys being sufiiciently deep to cooperate with the surface of a railway truck journal and hold the belts captive in said grooves without compressing the belts cross-wise thereof.

19. A unitary, self-aligning lubricant circulator for use in a railway journal assembly to convey oil from a reservoir in the lower portion of the housing and to sling it upwardly against the interior parts of the housing, said lubricant circulator comprising a wide leaf spring assembly of U-shape, pulleys carried on `oppositely projecting parallel trunnions secured to the free ends and the bight portion `of said U-shaped spring assembly, a resilient nonmetallic belt encircling the pulleys on either :side fof said spring assembly operable to permit but resisting the spreading or" the free ends of said U-shaped assembly when a journal is cradled between said free ends, and pedestal means secured to said bight portion and projecting oppositely from the legs of said -spring assembly, said pedestal being a one-legged support engageable with the bottom of a railway journal housing for holding the opposite end of the lubricant circulator seated against the under side of a journal.

20. In a railway truck journal assembly of the type having a journal housing provided with an oil reservoir in the bottom thereof, the rear end of said housing having a large diameter opening for the reception of a journal, a truck journal projecting into said housing through said opening, bearing means seated between the top of the journal and the top of said housing adapted to permit wide range movement of the housing relative to the journal; that improvement which comprises a self-contained mechanical lubricant circulator frictionally supported between the lower side of the journal and the bottom of the reservoir and operable to transfer oil from said reservoir upwardly against said journal and throughout the interior of said housing, said circulator having a generally U- shaped frame embracing said journal from the opposite lower sides thereof, belt pulleys carried on the opposite sides of said frame at the bight portion and ends of the legs thereof, resilient oil resistant belts encircling said pulleys at the opposite sides of said frame, and support means projecting downwardly from the bight portion of said frame for supporting said circulator from the bottom of 14 said oil reservoir with the upper runs of said belts held pressed against the lower side of said journal, said support means leaving said U-frame free to open, close, twist and pivot to accommodate the relative movements of said journal and its housing whiie maintaining the belts in iirm driving contact with the journal.

2l. ln a railway truck journal assembly of the type having a journal housing provided with an oil reservoir in the bottom thereof, the rear end of said housing having a large diameter opening for the reception of a journal, a truck journal projecting into said housing through said opening, bearing means seated between the top of the journal and the top of said housing adapted to permit wide range movement of the housing relative to the journal; that improvement which comprises a self-contained mechanical lubricant circulator supported on the bottom of the oil reservoir and cradled against the lower side of the journal for transferring oil from said reservoir upwardly against said journal and throughout the interior of said housing, said lubricant circulator having a generally U-shaped frame resliently embracing said journal from the opposite lower sides thereof, belt pulleys carried on the opposite sides of said frame at the bight portion and ends of the legs thereof, resilient oil resistant belts encircling said pulleys at the oppoiste sides of said frame for augmenting the resiliency of said U-shaped frame in holding the pulleys at the upper end of said frame in firm engagement with the opposite sides of said journal, and support means projecting downwardly from the bight portion of said frame for supporting said circulator from the bottom of said oil reservoir with the journal cradled against the upper runs of said belts, said support means leaving said U-frame free to ope-n, close, twist and pivot to accommodate the relative movements of said journal and its housing while maintaining the belts in firm driving contact with the journal.

22. In a railway truck journal assembly of the type having a journal housing provided with an oil reservoir in the bottom thereof, the rear end of said housing having a large diameter opening for the yreception of a journal, a truck journal projecting into said housing through said opening, bearing means seated between the top of the journal and the top of said housing adapted to permit wide range movement of the housing relative to the journal; that improvement which comprises a self-contained mechanical lubricant circulator adapted to be driven by :said journal and operable to circulate large quantities of oil from said reservoir upwardly against said journal and throughout the interior of said housing, said lubricant circulator having a generally U-shaped frame resiliently embracing said journal from the opposite lower sides thereof, at least three belt pulleys carried on the opposite sides of said frame at the bight portion and ends of the legs thereof, resilient oil resistant belts encircling said pulleys at the opposite sides of .said frame, and support means projecting downwardly `from the bight portion of said frame for `supporting said lubricant circulator from the bottom of 'said oil reservoir with the journal cradled against the upper runs of said belts to tension the same and provide a driving connection between said journal and circulator, said support means leaving said U-frame free to open, close, twist and pivot to accommodate the relative movements of said journal and its housing while maintaining the belts in firm driving contact with the journal.

23. In a railway truck journal assembly of the type havmg a journal housing provided with an oil reservoir in the bottom thereof, the rear end of said housing having a large diameter opening for the reception of a journal, a truck journal projecting into said housing through said opening, bearing means seated between the top of the journal and the top of said housing adapted to permit wide range movement of the housing relative to the journal; that improvement which comprises a self-contained mechanical lubricant circulator adapted to be driven by said journal and circulate oil `from said reservoir upwardly against said journalland throughout the interior` of said housing, said lubricant circulator having a generally U-shaped frame resiliently embracing said journalfrom the opposite lower sides thereof, belt pulleys carried on theopposite sides of said frame at the bight portion and ends of the legs thereof, resilient oil resistant belts encircling said pulleys at the opposite side-s of said frame, and support means projecting downwardly from the bight portion of said frame for supporting said lubricant circulator from the bottom of said oil reservoir with the upper runs of said belts held pressed against the lower side of'said panel, guard means secured to thc bottom of said reservoir for holding said support means loosely in place whereby said U-frame is-free to open, close, twist and pivot to accommodate the relative movements of said journaland its housing'while Vmaintaining the belts in firm driving contact with the journal.

24. In a railway truclr journal assembly of the type having a journal housing supported by bearing means slidable along the top side of a truck journal, said housing having an open oil reservoir in its lower portion and being freev to shift, pivot andtwist through limited ranges relative to said journal; that improvement which comprises a lubricant circulator resiliently cradled against the lower side of said journal from a support having a limited movement universal connection with the bottom of said oil reservoir, said circulator including a plurality of resilient belts, means for rotatably supporting said belts for operation in spaced apart parallel planes extending transversely of said journal, said belt supporting means including means for holding the lower runs of said belts submerged in oil near the bottom of said reservoir and means for holding the upper runs thereof cradled under tension against the lower sidel of said journal, the universal connection between said circulator andreservoir beinglocated substantially on the vertical medial axis of said circulator whereby said circulator follows therelative axial, pivotal and twisting movements of said journal and housing instantly to maintain rm and positive driving connection between the journal and circula- 25. A railway truck journal assembly as dened in claim 24 wherein said belts are susbtantially round in` cross-section whereby upon relative axial movement of said journal. and housing saidjournal tends to rotate said belts about their own cross-sectional axis rather than to tilt the circulator away from a'vertical plane traversing the journal.

26. A lubricant circulator for use betweena railway truck journal andthe bottom of the housing therefor, saidcirculator comprising upwardly diverging arms havingtheir lower converging ends joined together, said arms being resilient and movable toward and away from one another as well as about their own lengthwise axis, axles mounted at the upper ends of'each of said arms and at their lower interconnected ends, said axles being parallel to one another and having pulleys mounted on their outer ends at either side ol said arms whereby belts can be readily assembled onto or removed fromy said pulleys without interference from said supporting arms, resilient belts encircling the pulleys on either side of said circulator, and means adapted to support said circulator with its lower end closely spaced above thefbottom of an oilreservoir and the pulleys at the upperends of said arms resiliently embracing the opposite lower. sides of arotating journal.

27. A unitary, selfaligning circulator for use in a journal assembly to convey oil from a reservoir in the lower portion of the housing and to sling it upwardly against theinterior parts of thel housing, said circulator comprising a wide leaf spring assembly of U-shape, pairs of pulleysy carried at the upper endsv of the legsand at the bight portion of said--U-shaped spring assembly, a plurality of narrow resilient beltsencircling said pulleys operable to resist while permittingl the spreadingrof the free ends-of' said-`U-shapedfassemblyawhen a journal is cradled lbetween said: free'ends, and pedestal means secured to said bight portion and projecting oppositely from the legs of said spring assembly, said pedestal being adapted to provide a one-legged supportedengageable with the bottom ofa journal housingI for holding the upper runs of said belts held-taut againstthe under side of a journal.

28. Ay unitary, self-aligning circulator for use in a journalsassembly to convey oil from a reservoir in the lower portion of the housing and to sling it upwardly against the interior parts of the housing, said circulator comprising a wideleaf spring assembly of U-shape, pulleys carried at the upperfends of the legs and at the bight portion of said U-shapcd spring assembly, a plurality of spaced apart narrow-elastic beltsvencircling said pulleys operable to resistvwhile permitting the spreading of the free cndsof said' U-shaped-assernbly when a journal is cradledy between vsaidfree ends, and pedestal means secured to said bight portion and Aprojecting oppositely from the legsofsaid spring. assembly, the axisof said pedestal being located inavertical plane passing midway between thefoutermost ones off said belts.

29. In combination, a'housing supportedon a rotating journal by aA bearing positioned between said journal andsaid housing', alubricator for elevating oil from the bottomof; saidhousing into contact with said journal,

said lubricator comprising driving pulleys on each sidev belt meanslencircling said pulleys with portions thereof held compressedagainst the lower portions of said journal so as to be driven-by the rotation of the journal, whereby Vlubricant'is-carried-from a lower portion of thehousing upwardly toa bearing surface between said bearing and said rotating journal.

30. In a journal assembly of the type having a journal supporting an enclosing housing and a bearing from the top side thereof; that improvement which comprises a lubricant conveyor for carrying lubricant upwardly from a reservoir in the lowery portion of said housing to said journal, said lubricator having a single point of support on the bottornof said housing, an arcuate spring member supportedon said support'having arms extending on oppositev sides of said journal in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis thereof, rst rollers supported on said spring arms and resiliently held in true contact with -said rotating journal, second rollers generally parallel'to saidlrstrollers supported by said support in said reservoir, and narrow elastic belt meansencircling and held under tension by said rollers against the lower surface of said journal, said spring support member and said elastic belt means permitting the rollers to move toward and away from each other and take up new positionsof contact on the journal surface as said journal and housing move relatively to one another.

31. Al unitary self-aligning lubricator for a journal, housing supportedby. said journal, a wide leaf spring assembly of U-shape, a pair of rollersmounted on aligned trunnions carried on the free ends of each of the legs of `saidsspring adaptedto embrace and firmly contact the surface of a journal 'from the opposite sides thereof, pivot means projecting outwardly from the lower central bight portion of said spring, a pair of rollers mounted on said pivot means, and belt means encircling aligned rollers, said lubricator being adaptedto be inserted between a journal and awall of itssaid housing with said pairs of trunnion-supported rollers resiliently held in rm contact with the opposite sides of the journal and with said pivot means: resiliently'held` in supporting contactwith an interior wall of the journal housing` (References on following page) References Cited in the le of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 314,699 Germany Oct. 8, 1912. UNITED STATES PATENTS 400,491 Germany 2- Aug. 11, 1924 801,300 CODradSOn OCt- 10, 1905 412,826 Germany APL 30I 1925 864,778 Gamage Sept- 3, 1907 5 421,712 Greafritain Dec.28,1934 

